Spring suspension for vehicles



J H. CHANDLER SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Oct. 5 1926.

Filed sebt l5g w, a w

J. H. CHANDLER SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Oct. 5 1926.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1923 Fig.7.

75/7785 Hen/'1 Ckdnd/er ATTORNEY.

Oct. 5 1926. 1,602,337

J. H. CHANDLER I SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Filed Sept. 15, E923 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO I? Oct. 5 1926,

J. H. CHANDLER SPRING SUSPENSION FOR V BHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledSept. 15 1923 ATTORNEY Oct. 5 ,1926. 1,602,337

J. H. CHANDLER SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES Filed Sept 15, 192: sSheets-Sheet s m n/rah Patented Get. 5, 1926 JAM-ES HENRY CHANDLER,OELIONDON; ENGLAND.

sritiNe; SUSPENSION iron V'E'I-IICLES.

Application filed September 15; 19-23, Serial No. 662,975, at in EnglandSeptember '19, 1922.

This invention relates to spring suspensions tor vehicles,andmoreparticuiarly to suspensions of the general type embodying verticalhelical springs'lo'cated side by side between the vehicle" frame orequivalent member and an axle supporting member, and having theiropposite ends housed in said members, and a spring compensating deviceadapted to ensure return of said helical springs to normal conditionafter absorption ofsho'ck.

The' present invention relates to improvements in such aspringsuspensionof the type referred to, whereby it may be readily adapted or' appliedto existing vehicles generally and particularly to those which arecommonly suspended on laminated springs.

Such improved suspension device provides, with a vehicle fitted withsolid tyres, thesame comfort for passengers as those fitted withneumatic tyres, and where the latter are provided, increases the lifethere'- of.

According to this invention the improved suspension comprises one ormore vertical springs, preferably of the helical type, combined with oneor more 1aminated 0r horizontal springsat each side ofthe vehicle foreach axle or equivalent, the said two classes of springs being sorelated that the vertical springor springs carry all or substantiallyall the load, and the horizontal or laminated spring or springs is orare substantially free from traffic effort and act to damp thevibrations of said vertical springer springs.

The invention also comprises other com binations of parts and details ofconstruction andarraiigement all-as hereinafter fully described andpointed out in appended claims". i v p In the accompanying drawings Fig.lis' a sectional side elevation of one embodiment of the invention. 2 isa sectiononthe line 2-2"otFig. L Fig. 3 is a plan View with the upperspring housing and bracket (hereinafterdescribed) removed. Fig. 4 is apartial end view from the left of Fig. 1. Figs. '5 and 5 jointlyconstitute a part sectional side elevation of second embodiment. Fig. 6is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 7 jointly constituteapla'n view of Fig. 5 with the upper spring housing and bracket removed.Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a compensating device shown detached butnormally in position in cont-inuationef the I left hand of Fig. 5 9is apartial end View of Fig-. 8 from the left. r ht is-a section-a1 sideelevation or a modificatioiishowmg an arangement oftr'an'sverselaminated springs and Fig. 13 is 'a'vi'eW, with parts in sectio'n, takenat right angles to Fig. 12. r v

As shown in the drawings one or'more-vertic'al springs a are used ateach side of the vehicle and may be of spiral, helical or other suitableform. In Fig. 1 asingl'e spring is shown and inFig. 5 three such springscarried at opposite ends in heusings 6, b the upper one Z) of which issecured-by means of a bracket (Z to the vehicle chassis '0. A compensating device 6 is also provided, but is applied for the purpose oftransmitting the pulling strain, besides being adapted, when necessaryor desired, to act for the same purpose and in the same manner as in theknown arrangements.

In the present improvements, however, flexibility between the respectiveaide centres and the absorption of both horizontal and verticai' shocksby the vertical. spring 01- springs at are obtained in the followingmanner: Y

Instead of the abserptioa ofthe muse shocks'b'eing directly effected bythe vertical springs, the axle-tree f or equivalent member employed, isconnected by bolts 7 or other convenient-means to the lower housing 6whichsupp'ort's and carries the 'c'up 6 receiving the lower end of saidvertical spring a. This housing is held in position by a laminatedspring 9 which can be either 'fi'Xed to thehousing' or have a'sli'ding'movement in relation thereto (as may be 'found desirable) and isconnected by rod g to the compensating device'e' with or withoutadjustable means such as spring e which'is pivotally supported orcar'riedby a bracket 0 depending from the chassis'a The com pensatingdevice, when provided with an adjustabl'e spring, as illustrated, servesthe purpose'of restoring the axle-tree or equivalent to normal positionwhen the wheels pass over an obstruction, but also co-operates in theabsorption of I horizontal shoe-ks. WVhen the compensating device'is notprovided with an adjustable spring, the fiexi'bilitybetween therespective aXl'e centres or deflection of the axle centr'es is obtained,although in a lesser degree, by the application of rigid radius rods andthe laminated spring 9. No traflic pull or tractive effort is thustransmitted either through the vertical spring or springs 64 or thelaminated spring 9.

Owing to the special design and manner of arrangement of the aforesaidlower housing 5 the laminated spring 5/ is relieved of traffie pull andto a great extent of the effects of traiiic shock or load. The saidspring 9 is anchored at opposite ends to the vehicle frame; for exampleat one end to a pin or bolt 9 and at the opposite end by a rocker orshackle 9 As the said spring is not subjected to any undue strains ordistortion, it may comprise a single leaf as in Fig. 1 or severalleaves, two such being shown in Fig. 5, or a considerable number as inFig. 12; and therefore is very much lighter and more flexible than ifmade to carry the full load. The introduction of the said laminatedspring 9 in the manner described and the greater flexibility of samethus obtained, eliminates the use of the brackets and link connectionscommonly employed in this class of suspension. The said laminated springalso acts to maintain the axles of the vehicle in parallel alignment andprovides means for laterally stabilizing the vehicle.

There is thus provided a spring suspension which combines two differentforms of spring viz helical or the like a (vertical) and laminated 9(horizontal), one system counteracting the detrimental effects andfunctions of the other; for instance, the helical spring or springswhich can be made very flexible are liable to cause oscillation undercertain traiiic conditions, but such oscillation will be counteracted bythe resilient laminated spring mentioned. The most advantageousproperties of each system may therefore be utilized and results obtainedwhich cannot be produced by the use of one or other of said systemsseparately.

\Vith the object of securing greater safety in case. of accident, aspindle or stopper h is provided within each vertical spring a securedto the lower housing 5 and extending upwards within the spring for acertain dis tance. In case of spring or coil of aspring breaking, thisspindle ]b will retain the spring in function. The spindle may be of anysuitable material and if of steel, its ends may be provided with arubber (or any other resilient material) cap or in lieu thereof ashorter vertical spring may be used which also provides the necessaryresilience under heavier loads. 1

A construction as above described results in a spring suspension ofunique design applicable to any type of vehicle. whether animal-drawn,self-propelled or trailed. It is further adapted to replace the usuallaminated spring suspension without necessitating any structuralalterations of the vehicle frame or chassis and provides amongst othernovel features a laminated spring which is substantially free of trailiceffort and whose function is not to support the load, but to act as adamper on the vibration of the load carrying helical spring or springs.The

compensating device, when fitted with an ad justable spring, also allowsthe pressure to be regulated or varied at will, and the stopper in theform of a solid cylindrical memher or spring affords a safety device,all as explained above.

In the modification of the above arrangements shown in Figs. 12 and 13,a combination of helical or vertical springs and laminated leaf orhorizontal springs may be em ployed in which the latter is or aredisposed transversely of the vehicle, this combination counteracting therebounding effect produced by the helical spring or springs alone andsecuring a greater lateral stabilization of the vehicle.

In the construction illustrated of such an arrangement two verticalhelical springs 71 carried substantially as hereinbefore described inupper and lower housings 71 ,1 respectively are mounted one at each sideof the axis of the axle-tree 7' with theirends housed in guide cups orotherwise suitably mounted. Between said helical springs is located atransverse laminated or leaf spring is firmly connected at or about itscentre as by bolts to a cross member Z of the vehicle chassis c and withits outer ends connected to shackles or links m which in turn aresecured by bolts n to the axle-tree or equivalent between said verticalhelical springs i. The spring suspension as a whole viz the combinedhelical and laminated springs, is thus disposed symmetrically withregard to the axis of the axle or equivalent and tends to actefiiciently in the manner above stated, the effect being in this and inthe arrangement first described that the laminated spring is takes upbut a small portion of the load carried by the helical spring or springsz" and that the latter deal only with vertical shocks, the combinedeffect being that the laminated spring is relieved of the greaterportion of its duty as compared with ordinary laminated springsuspension.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is 1. A spring suspension for vehicles, comprising, incombination with an axle, a vertical spring anda horizontal springlocated at each side of the vehicle, and a radius member interposedbetween the axle and a stationary vehicle member; said springs andradius member being so related that the vertical springs carry the bulkof the load and absorb both vertical and horizontal shocks, the radiusmember relieves both the vertical and the horizontal springs of traetiveeffort, and the horizontal springs act solely to damp the vibrations ofthe vertical springs.

2. A spring suspension for vehicles, comprising, in combination with thefront and rear axles, a vertical helical spring and a horizontallaminated spring located at each side of the vehicle for each axle, anda compensating device including a spring loaded radius member interposedbetween each axle and a stationary vehicle member; the said springs andradius member being so related that the vertical helical springs carryapproximately all the load and absorb both vertical and horizontalshocks, the horizontal laminated springs act solely to damp thevibrations of said vertical springs, and the radius member absorbshorizontal shock and relieves said vertical and horizontal springs oftractive effort.

3. A spring suspension for vehicles, comprising, in combination, anaxle, a vertical helical spring interposed between said axle and theframe of the vehicle, a bearing member secured to the axle, a horizontallaminated spring traversing said bearing member and having movement inrelation thereto and mounted at its ends on the vehicle frame, and aradius member including a resilient element interposed between said axleand frame member; the said springs and radius member being so relatedthat the vertical helical spring carries approximately all the load andabsorbs both vertical and horizontal shocks, the horizontal laminatedspring acts solely to damp the vibrations of said vertical spring, andthe radius member absorbs horizontal shock and relieves said verticaland horizontal springs of trac tive effort.

4. A spring suspension for vehicles, comprising, in combination, anaxle, a vertical helical spring interposed between said axle and theframe of the vehicle, a bearing member secured to the axle, a spindlesecured to said bearing member and extending'within the vertical springfor a substantial distance, a horizontal laminated spring traversingsaid bearing member and having movement in relation thereto and mountedat its ends on the vehicle frame, and a radius member including aresilient element interposed be tween said axle and frame member; thesaid springs and radius member being so related that the verticalhelical spring carries approximately all the load and absorbs bothvertical and horizontal shocks, the horizontal laminated spring actssolely to damp the vibrations of said vertical spring, and the radiusmember absorbs horizontal shock and relieves said vertical andhorizontalsprings I to damp the vibrations of said vertical springs, andthe radius member absorbs horizontal shock and relieves said verticaland horizontal springs of tractive effort.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

JAMES HENRY CHANDLER.

